Romans 7
1 Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth?
While in this flesh, we need the law. It's the guideline for behavior. Paul's going to use marriage as an example.
2 For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband.
They become one and should be as one. There are of course reasons you can divorce the one you marry. Adultery and abuse are to name two in where abuse comes in many forms. God divorced Israel because of their adultery. Ref. - Hosea 1:10 Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured no numbered; and it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, `Ye are not My people,' there it shall be said unto them, `Ye are the sons of the living God'.
3 So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man.
Within the "normal" confounds of marriage under the law, if one divorced the other, they can't marry again until ones death.
4 Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.
This is a spiritual death. We die of the flesh and marry Christ. We divorce the law in the sense we marry Christ as our Way to life. We continue to carry the law with us in this flesh. Our flesh and spirit belongs to God upon repentance. We are His bride, Christ our Bridegroom.
5 For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death.
The law lets us know with ourselves, when we are doing wrong and guilt would help us change/repent or bring us to a spiritual death while alive in the flesh.
6 But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.
We were death with the law because without Christ, there is no forgiveness or Way out of that sin. Christ is The only Way to forgiveness were by the law is our guideline in our walk with Christ.
7 What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.
Think about it, without the law we wouldn't know what to repent for.
8 But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead.
concupiscence = from G1937 in your Strong's; a longing (especially for what is forbidden):—concupiscence, desire, lust (after). The desire to do things against Gods direction. Without the law sin is dead. It doesn't exist without a law for that sin.
9 For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.
Paul hated the law and because he followed the world and satan, he went about destroying those that followed God. He woke up when he accepted The Truth and that old Paul died and a new man was born from above.
10 And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death.
Paul knew the law before repentance and he used it by twisting it in a way that he created a new law within himself to account for his evil actions. People do this every day. They twist The Truth so they can do whatever they want while calling themselves "Christian."
11 For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me.
This is why we must study God's Word ourselves. We should never take a humans word for what God Himself has given. Most churches don't teach The Truth anyway. They don't have the time because of the things they've brought into their building.
12 Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.
We can twist it all we want, the fact remains the law stays the same.
13 Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful.
What we put in, we put out. You let sin overcome you and sin is what you become. Seek God and The Truth and good will follow from you.
14 For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.
We will continue to sin and by the law we understand that sin. The law holds true, solid and with power. We need it to become the same.
15 For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.
We know we should do certain things but we don't and we do things we shouldn't while knowing we shouldn't do them.
16 If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good.
When doing something wrong, we know it's wrong because of the law and by admitting that, we also admit the law is good.
17 Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
Because were flesh humans, we will always sin, but we as Christians should always continue to strive to be as Christ. Christian = Christ like.
18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.
Paul wants to do good, but knows while in these flesh body's, we're as filthy rags. He also knows without Christ, he wouldn't have The Way to be forgiven.
19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.
Even when we don't want to sin, we continue to fall short and do it anyway.
20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
Paul isn't ignoring the fact he's a sinner. We must face that fact in order to make a new start at coming out of those sins. Without the law, there would be no need for repentance and without the need for repentance there was no need for Christ to die for us.
21 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.
Paul is just like the rest of us in the sense we try to do what's right but seem to do wrong. No one is perfect, not one of us. Thank God for sending His Son that we can be made new in Him EVERYDAY from the heart.
22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:
Paul delights in that he becomes a new man in The Truth of God. Christ helps us become what we should.
23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.
This is a battle within ourselves. Our flesh wants something our spirit knows isn't good.
24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
There is but One and His name is Christ Jesus Yahshua. He and ONLY He can deliver us from death.
25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.
With our old nature of the flesh we will continue to sin. Thank God He sent us The Way out of sin and into life everlasting. Strive to follow The law and when you fall short, you have Christ Jesus to go to. When you ask for it from your heart, it's forgiven and no more. Our Father doesn't want to hear anymore about the past, He wants you to remember it was something you did, but don't do anymore. You're made new, born from above EVERYDAY you repent. Walk in Christ and live today â€